Pedro Martinez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #5 prospect in 1993
  Management still likes Martinez, but he slips from last year’s No. 1 spot because there are concerns his slight frame might not be conducive to a power pitching game. The history of small righthanders is not good. Last year, Martinez was pestered by minor problems with his throwing arm, and a major problem with his non-throwing shoulder that required reconstructive surgery. He wound up with decent numbers in Triple-A, including a strikeout per inning. Because of the widespread publicity generated by brother Ramon and the heralded anticipation of younger brother Pedro’s arrival, it’s easy to forget he’s only 21. He might be best suited for a job in the bullpen.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #1 prospect in 1992
  Good bloodlines. All you need to know about Pedro Martinez is that the Dodgers think he could be better than his brother Ramon, who has 44 major league wins before his 24th birthday. Even an organization known to advance players exceedingly slowly couldn’t hold back Pedro, who raced from high Class A Bakersfield to finish last year at Triple-A Albuquerque, succeeding at each level. Martinez was a combined 18-8, 2.29. He does not throw as hard as Ramon and is on the short side for a righthander, but Pedro is years ahead of his lanky older brother with his curveball, and he makes up for his lack of experience with exceptional intelligence. He digests instruction and is capable of exploiting a batter’s weakness to a degree rarely seen in a 20-year-old. His 184 strikeouts in 1991 are the most for a Dodgers minor leaguer since Sid Fernandez had 209 in 1983. His 18 wins were the most since Ted Power had 20 in 1981. Martinez spent September with his brother in Los Angeles, and heard constant comparisons. “That pressure is not fair,” Pedro said. “People look at me like I’m a big, big man. Compare me to a big league all-star? I’m not Ramon. People who know about baseball won’t do that.” When Ramon pitched well in the spring of 1989, management sent him back to the minors. Pedro could present the brass with a repeat of that difficult decision this spring. If Pedro makes the majors, he and his brother will be playing on the same team for the first time. P.S.: Tune in next year for the latest on 17-year-old Jesus, yet another Martinez brother in the Dodgers organization. He struck out 83 in 70 innings in the Dominican Summer League in 1991.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #8 prospect in 1991
  Martinez has the same lean body as his 6-foot-4, 173-pound brother Ramon, the Dodgers’ 20-game winner. Despite being shorter, Pedro concedes nothing to Ramon in his ability to consistently send a 90 mph fastball to the plate. Once he fills out and gets stronger, his velocity will probably surpass Ramon’s. The younger Martinez has the makings of a good curveball and changeup, but both are below-average pitches now. He fields his position well, is a tough and intelligent kid, but often tries to be too fine and goes unnecessarily deep into the count. Martinez did not play winter ball because of a stress fracture of his right elbow sustained in instructional league.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #3 prospect in 1992
  Most managers love his arm, but question his makeup. “When he’s going good, he’s the best pitcher in the league,” one manager said. “But when something goes wrong, he needs to show a little more poise.” Martinez, younger brother of the Dodgers’ Ramon, was on the fast track to Los Angeles after winning 18 games a year ago, but found the going much tougher at Triple-A. He has a great fastball and circle changeup, but went 7-6, 3.81 for Albuquerque.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #5 prospect in 1991
  The younger brother of the Dodgers’ Ramon Martinez made a name for himself. Hitters don’t become intimidated just looking at Martinez. He is 5-foot-11, 150 pounds. He turned 20 in July. He looks vulnerable. But after his 90 mph fastball or sharp slider, Texas League hitters knew there was more to this skinny kid than met the eye. Martinez went 7-5, 1.76 in less than two months with San Antonio. He threw three shutouts in 12 starts and struck out 74 in 77 innings.
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 1991
  Martinez spent just two months in Bakersfield this season, but he made quite an impression. He went 8-0, 2.05 with 83 strikeouts in 61 innings. He was promoted to Double-A San Antonio in May and was pitching for Triple-A Albuquerque by August. Overall, he won 18 games. California League managers selected Martinez as the pitcher with the best fastball. At 20, Martinez is farther along than brother Ramon was at the same age. Martinez has a good changeup, and was working on his curveball in Bakersfield. He blew his fastball past hitters in the California League.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #3 prospect in 1990
  Martinez has the same lean body type as his older brother Ramon, but is four to five inches shorter. Nonetheless, Great Falls manager Joe Vavra said, in terms of development, Pedro is ahead of his brother at the same point in their careers. Martinez throws a plus major league fastball and a changeup. He consistently was around the plate with Great Falls, but often ran deep counts because he tried to be too fine. Like most Dominicans, who are discouraged from throwing breaking balls at an early age, Martinez needs work on refining his curveball. “Not as good as his brother, but he still had the best arm in the league,” Helena manager Gary Calhoun said.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #62 prospect in 1993
• Ranked Baseball America's #10 prospect in 1992

• December, 1992 Scouting Report
  Management still likes Martinez, but he slips from last year’s No. 1 spot because there are concerns his slight frame might not be conducive to a power pitching game. The history of small righthanders is not good. Last year, Martinez was pestered by minor problems with his throwing arm, and a major problem with his non-throwing shoulder that required reconstructive surgery. He wound up with decent numbers in Triple-A, including a strikeout per inning. Because of the widespread publicity generated by brother Ramon and the heralded anticipation of younger brother Pedro’s arrival, it’s easy to forget he’s only 21. He might be best suited for a job in the bullpen.
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  Good bloodlines. All you need to know about Pedro Martinez is that the Dodgers think he could be better than his brother Ramon, who has 44 major league wins before his 24th birthday. Even an organization known to advance players exceedingly slowly couldn’t hold back Pedro, who raced from high Class A Bakersfield to finish last year at Triple-A Albuquerque, succeeding at each level. Martinez was a combined 18-8, 2.29. He does not throw as hard as Ramon and is on the short side for a righthander, but Pedro is years ahead of his lanky older brother with his curveball, and he makes up for his lack of experience with exceptional intelligence. He digests instruction and is capable of exploiting a batter’s weakness to a degree rarely seen in a 20-year-old. His 184 strikeouts in 1991 are the most for a Dodgers minor leaguer since Sid Fernandez had 209 in 1983. His 18 wins were the most since Ted Power had 20 in 1981. Martinez spent September with his brother in Los Angeles, and heard constant comparisons. “That pressure is not fair,” Pedro said. “People look at me like I’m a big, big man. Compare me to a big league all-star? I’m not Ramon. People who know about baseball won’t do that.” When Ramon pitched well in the spring of 1989, management sent him back to the minors. Pedro could present the brass with a repeat of that difficult decision this spring. If Pedro makes the majors, he and his brother will be playing on the same team for the first time. P.S.: Tune in next year for the latest on 17-year-old Jesus, yet another Martinez brother in the Dodgers organization. He struck out 83 in 70 innings in the Dominican Summer League in 1991.
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  Most managers love his arm, but question his makeup. “When he’s going good, he’s the best pitcher in the league,” one manager said. “But when something goes wrong, he needs to show a little more poise.” Martinez, younger brother of the Dodgers’ Ramon, was on the fast track to Los Angeles after winning 18 games a year ago, but found the going much tougher at Triple-A. He has a great fastball and circle changeup, but went 7-6, 3.81 for Albuquerque.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  Martinez has the same lean body as his 6-foot-4, 173-pound brother Ramon, the Dodgers’ 20-game winner. Despite being shorter, Pedro concedes nothing to Ramon in his ability to consistently send a 90 mph fastball to the plate. Once he fills out and gets stronger, his velocity will probably surpass Ramon’s. The younger Martinez has the makings of a good curveball and changeup, but both are below-average pitches now. He fields his position well, is a tough and intelligent kid, but often tries to be too fine and goes unnecessarily deep into the count. Martinez did not play winter ball because of a stress fracture of his right elbow sustained in instructional league.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  Martinez spent just two months in Bakersfield this season, but he made quite an impression. He went 8-0, 2.05 with 83 strikeouts in 61 innings. He was promoted to Double-A San Antonio in May and was pitching for Triple-A Albuquerque by August. Overall, he won 18 games. California League managers selected Martinez as the pitcher with the best fastball. At 20, Martinez is farther along than brother Ramon was at the same age. Martinez has a good changeup, and was working on his curveball in Bakersfield. He blew his fastball past hitters in the California League.
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  The younger brother of the Dodgers’ Ramon Martinez made a name for himself. Hitters don’t become intimidated just looking at Martinez. He is 5-foot-11, 150 pounds. He turned 20 in July. He looks vulnerable. But after his 90 mph fastball or sharp slider, Texas League hitters knew there was more to this skinny kid than met the eye. Martinez went 7-5, 1.76 in less than two months with San Antonio. He threw three shutouts in 12 starts and struck out 74 in 77 innings.
• December, 1989 Scouting Report
  Martinez has the same lean body type as his older brother Ramon, but is four to five inches shorter. Nonetheless, Great Falls manager Joe Vavra said, in terms of development, Pedro is ahead of his brother at the same point in their careers. Martinez throws a plus major league fastball and a changeup. He consistently was around the plate with Great Falls, but often ran deep counts because he tried to be too fine. Like most Dominicans, who are discouraged from throwing breaking balls at an early age, Martinez needs work on refining his curveball. “Not as good as his brother, but he still had the best arm in the league,” Helena manager Gary Calhoun said.